Ecuador has released a survivor apprehended by U.S. military forces following a strike on a submarine believed to be involved in drug smuggling in the Caribbean. U.S. President Donald Trump had initially stated that the captured Ecuadorean national and a Colombian citizen would be returned to their home countries for prosecution. However, Ecuador’s Attorney General’s office announced that the Ecuadorean individual could not be detained as no crime had been reported to their institution.
The U.S. has been conducting a series of strikes against vessels described as involved in drug trafficking in the region. The two survivors are reportedly the first to be rescued from such attacks, which have resulted in several fatalities since early September.
President Trump claimed the submarine was carrying significant amounts of drugs, including fentanyl, and described the incident as an attack on a “drug-carrying, loaded submarine.” However, experts in drug trafficking have questioned the origin of fentanyl seizures in the U.S., noting that it predominantly enters through Mexico rather than from the southern Caribbean.
Concerns have been raised regarding the legality of these U.S. strikes under international law, although the Trump administration maintains it is targeting “narco-terrorists.” The deployment involves approximately 10,000 U.S. troops, supported by numerous aircraft and ships.
Following the strike, the Ecuadorean survivor was reported to be in good health, while the Colombian survivor sustained a traumatic brain injury and required ventilation, according to Colombian officials. The Colombian government has expressed concerns about the incident, highlighting the man’s critical condition.